What is our role in the world at large?
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." John 13:34
The church is not the building but the people.
People make the church.
So what's our role? Each of us has a role to fulfill in the church. If one part of a body fails, the body can die.
Three holistic roles of the church:
-- worship
--edification
--evangelism
Worship -- expressing our love by worshipping the Creator.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your [a]years with good things,so that your youth is renewed like the eagle." Psalm 103:1-5
"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
3 Know that the Lord [b]Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and [c]not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with [d]thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 100:1-5
Make noise for Jesus!
Don't be an eyore.
Edification -- building each other up (bible study, continuing education, praying for each other, hospitality, meeting needs, spiritual, physical, emotional).
"Therefore [a]encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25
Never been a more opportune time to do God's work! Should be a major mission to edify each other.
Evangelism -- reaching out to a lost world.
People have questions. It is our responsibility to know the truth and to be able to defend it. We need to be able to express compassion and mercy tangibly. We need to truly make a difference. Express compassion and mercy tangibly.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [b]always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Get busy. You have an incredible gift you need to share. We have been commissioned by God to lead. Am I just watching? Or am I doing?
"The basic function of the church is to be involved in every facet of the life of the believer. Christ looked at the needs of the people, provided it and then began to preach the good news. The church today must live up to its own billing" Gilford T. Montrose
"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the [a]saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;" Ephesians 4:11-12
We are the people. So what should we be doing?
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”" Isaiah 6:8